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170
in person some of the rough out-posts that
I have been called to occupy during these
twenty two years past, and they will learn
something of the heart sadness caused by
those newspaper attempts designed to rob
them of the sympathies and prayers and
co-operation of their brethren % who send
them forth to distant and trying fields.
With fraternal regards to the members
of the Board,
Believe me faithfully,
m* J. LEWIS SHUCK.
Cjjc ‘CljristM fn&tt.
TELEGRAPH POWER PRESS.
JOSEPH WALKER, Editor.
Macon, Wednesday, Oct. 28,1857.
History of the Christian Index. .
In the first number of the present volume,
we intimated, that the Index began its ca
reer in Philadelphia, under the title of “ The
Columbian Star,” and that Dr. Brantly was
its first editor- We were soon told by sever
brethren that this statement was incorrect,
bat no one could give us light as to the true
historic facts in the case. At length, an aged
Georgia Minister published in No. 11 of the
Index, that Luther Rice first originated the
Columbian Star, at Washington city. We
accepted the correction, and thus the matter
rested.
In a late number of the True Union, a
Baptist paper published in Baltimore, the
subjoined editorial appeared:
‘‘The Religious Herald, of Richmond,
which has been under the editorial direction
of the veteran editor, brother William Sands,
for more than a quarter of a century, and
has been, during that period, regarded as the
exponent of Baptist principles in Virginia, is
one of the oldest papers of the South, per
haps we may say, the oldest .”
On this we made the following remarks in
the Index:
“ So writes the editor of the True Union.
We do not believe that the Senior of the
Herald claims for his journal such an antiqui
ty as ‘ the oldest ’ paper in the South. If he
does, we feel disposed to contest his claim,
and call for the proof. We do not attach
much importance to the age of a paper as an
indication of its merit, but it may be well to
avoid the transposition of historical facts, in
this as in any other case.”
The Senior editor of the Religions Herald
copied these paragraphs, prefacing them with
the following observations:
“ Index and Herald. —We copy the two
following paragraphs from the Christian In
dex, and in response to the enquiry of broth
er Walker, the editor of that journal, the se
nior editor of the Herald would say, that he
is not conscious of ever having set up such a
claim. The Herald was commenced in 1828,
and this is the 30th volume. The Columbian
Star was commenced a few years earlier at
Washington, (not we think as a weekly at
first, and then called the Latter-Day Lumina
ry.) It was subsequently issued at Philadel
phia —then transferred to Georgia, and its
name changed to the Christian Index. When
at Philadelphia it ceased to be a Southern
journal. It issued there over six years, as 36
is given as the numer of volumes of the old,
and 25 of the new series, the Herald is the
oldest Southern journal —though not the old
er paper.”
We do not suppose that Brother Sands se
riously believes that the Columbian Star u ceas
ed to be a Southern journal” on account of
its removal to Philadelphia. A moment’s re
flection would convince him of the contrary.
No separation between Northern and South
ern Baptistshad then taken place. Dr .Brantly
was a Southern man ; most of the contribu
tors to the Star were Southern, while its lar
gest patronage was, doubtless, from the
South. Whatever was the character of the
paper at Washington, that was it at Philadel
phia, and in the same light was it regarded
by Southern Baptists generally.
With a desire to be informed on this sub
ject, we addressed the subjoined note to Dr.
Howell, who was a student at the Columbian
College at the time the Columbian Star was
issued from Washington city :
Macon, Ga., Oct. 3d, 1857.
Dear Brother Howell : —Will you please
prepare for the next week’s Index, a short or
condensed account of its history. Its readers
would like to have the facts in the case, as
they are known to you. The old copiss, now
in my possession, give me information only
back to 1830, when the paper had the title of
Columbian Star and Christian Index , and was
edited by W. T. Brantly, at Philadelphia.
Yours very truly,
JOS. WALKER, Ed. Index.
To this note we obtained the appended re
ply, which speaks for itself:
Nashville, Oct. 16th, 1857.
De\r Brother Walker: —l cheerfully com
ply \mih your request conveyed to me in
your note of the 3rd instant. My recollec
tions of the origin, and early history of the
paper you now edit, may be at fault in some
of their details, but are, I am sure, generally
correct. Such as they are, I submit them, as
you have desired, to your readers.
In November, I think it was, of 1823,1
joined the Columbian College, as one of its
students. On my arrival in Washington, I
became a reader of the Columbian Star, which
after many a change in form, ownership, edi
torship, and multitudinous transmigrations,
is the Christian Index, of Macon, Georgia. It
was then published, and I believe, professedly
edited by John S. Meehan, at his office near
the Post-office building. The paper was, as
I understood, originated about a year before
this, by Luther Rice, with the co-operation
and assistance of Dr. Win. Staughton, and
O. B. Brown, who together were understood
to be its real editors. It was then as now, a
weekly folio sheet. Mr. Brown edited be
sides, in the same office, a monthly pamphlet,
the Latter-Day Luminary. These were the
media through which our brethren of that
day sought, and gained to a considerable ex-
tent, access to the public mind, on the subject
of education, and missions. The American
Baptist Tract Society, now the American
Baptist Publication Society, was organized
about the same time, by these gentlemen, to
gether with the faculty and religious stu
dents of the College, in which Noah Davis,
then a student, but some years afterwards
its Corresponding Secretary, was its promi
nent advocate. By the way, we then had
about twenty-five young men in College, who
were studying for the ministry, from all the
States, from Massachusetts to Georgia inclu
sive, nearly all of whom have since occupied
a very large space in the public eye. They
were immeasurably the most talented compa
ny of young men 1 have ever seen assembled
together.
Soon after these events, Mr. James D.
Knowles, a student, but known afterwards as
the writer of the Memoir of the first Mrs.
JudsoD, and editor of the Christian Review,
was announced as the editor of the Columbi
an Star, and he certainly conducted it with
great ability and success. At that time your
humble servant began to try his hand at news
paper articles, and the Star was the recepta
cle of various of his juvenile lucubrations, in
prose and poetry. Mr. Knowles graduated,
and resigned his editorship. He was succeed
ed by another student, Baron Stow, now pas
tor of one of the churches in Boston, who
even then possessed great talents, and learn
ing. During his administration an unhappy
collision occurred between him and Mr. Rice,
and Dr. Staughton, in relation to the man
agement of the affairs of the College, and its
connection with the Triennial Convention. —
The controversy, which became somewhat
personal, found its way into the paper. The
consequences were,that Mr. Stow resigned the
editorship. The proprietors of the paper, who
were, as I supposed, its originators, Rice,
Staughton, and Brown, placed it in the hands
of Dr. W. T. Brantly, probably sold it to him,
and it was transferred to Philadelphia, the
place of his residence, whence it came forth
inler new auspices, a quarto, bearing the
name of “ The Columbian Star, and Chris
tian Index.” Dr. B. gave it much of his at
tention, and it was equal to say the least, in
ability, to any weekly paper in America, ei
ther of that or of the present day. It abound
ed in communications from such men as Sem
ple, and Clopton, of Virginia, Noel, of Ken
tucky. Hooper, of North Carolina, Mercer, of
Georgia, cum multis aliis. From this time on
ward you are acquainted with its history.
Your files in the office at Macon, run back,
you inform me, only to 1830. In what year
the transfer from Washington,to Philadelphia,
took place, I do not now remember. It must
have been in 1826, or 7,1 think, since my files
extended to about the latter of these dates.
I did not preserve the paper while printed in
Washington, but commenced doing so when
Dr. Brantly took charge of it, having just at
that time become pastor of the church in
Cumberland street, Norfolk, Virginia, and
continued until near the close of the editor
ship of Dr. J. S. Baker. The Dr. probably
by some accident, ceased to send it to me, and
I no longer saw it regularly, until you had
the kindness lately, to place my name upon
the list, and for which I avail myself of this
medium to offer you my most hearty thanks.
I had all these files bound, and prized them
very highly. You ask me perhaps, whether
I have them now. I answer that some dozen
years ago, Dr. Malcolm, then President of
Georgetown College, Ky., spent two or three
weeks with me in this city. He solicited, and
I gave him about fifteen volumes of it, begin
ning with the first, for his college They are,
I suppose, now in the library of that institu
tion. I have still the late files of your paper,
and as you know, probably, two hundred vol
umes —a wagon load—of other papers, peri
odicals, minutes, reports, speeches, &e., all
well bound, tolerably perfect, and in a good
state of preservation. These files contain
all the materials necessary for a complete his
tory of our denomination in this country du
ring the quarter of a century last past —of all
our churches, ministers and people they
“ Catch the manners flying as they rise,”
and daguerreotype them perfectly. You see
every thing here—exactly as it was, without
the least concealment.
But lam becoming prolix. You wanted
only a short article. I have written too
much, and am very sorry it is so egotistical.
I cannot change it now. Pardon me if you
please, and believe me still, as I was when
your pastor, more than twenty-five years
since, warmly and truly in Christ Jesus, vour
brother. R. B. C. HOWELL.
The only points not definitely settled by
Dr. Howell’s letter, are the dates of the pa
per’s removal, first to Philadelphia, and then
to Georgia. These points, however, can be
disposed of by other testimony.
Under date of June 26th, 1830, of The Co
lumbian Star, and Christian Index, Dr. Brantly,
the editor, makes the following remarks:
“ This number closes the first volume of
this publication for 1830—and completes two
volumes since the change from the sheet to
the pamphlet form.”
If, then, as Dr. Howell affirms, it became
“a quarto” on its removal to Philadelphia,
and if, as Dr. Brantly stated, the 26th of
June, 1830, completed the second volume, it
must have gone to Philadelphia in the year
1828, which corresponds with Dr. Howell’s
recollection of the event.
In the fifth volume of the new series, in
the year 1837, the editors, Mercer and Stokes,
say: “ The present number closes the fifth
volume of the Index since it came into our
hands.” According to this, the paper must
have gone to Georgia in the close of 1832,
though one brother writes that it was taken
there earlier. From all this it appears, that
the Columbian Star, and Christiau Index could
not have been published at Philadelphia for
a longer time than fioe years at farthest.
From the whole of the foregoing corres
pondence and editorial extracts, thefollowing
historical facts, in relation to the Index, and
its predecessors, have, as we think, been
reached with unquestionable certainty :
1. “ The Latter Day Luminary ” was not a
predecessor, but a cotemporary of the Columbi
an Star.
2. The periodical known, first as the Co
lumbian Star, and now as the Index, was al
ways, as it is now, a weekly.
THE CHRISTIAN INDEX.
3. The Christian Index is the oldest Bap
tist PAPER IN THE SOUTH.
As was said before, “We do not attach
much importance to the age of a paper as an
indication of its merits yet, it is due to the
patrons of the Index, that its true history
should be preserved.
Will not the Georgia Baptists contin*
ue to sustain their old friend and weekly ser-!
vant ?
“Is it best to fight with the South ?”
Under the above caption, the Boston Post
after stating that about two-thirds of the ex
ports of this country for a succession of years
have gone from the South, makes the follow
ing remarks :
“Under these circumstances, is it worth
while for New England business men longer
to wage war against the South— quarrel with
their own bread and butter —simply to gratify
the aspirations of such superlative demagogues
and political weathercocks as .Nathaniel P.
Banks ?
Without meddling with politics, we sug
gest that some of our religious excnanges
profit by these inquiries of the Post.
editorial summary.
A Private letter from Cassville informs us
that the College is looking up, and that high
hopes are indulged that it will receive the
“meed of honor and patronage which it de
serves.” We can not doubt but that the
Cherokee country will be true to its own col
legiate interests.
We learn that the protracted meeting, re
cently conducted by Prof. W. H. Robert, re
sulted in the baptism of 64 persons, and the
addition of 19 by letter and restoration, mak
ing a total of 83.
The Ebenezer Association has just closed
a pleasant session at Antioch, in Twiggs co.
Rev. Henry Bun was chosen-Moderator, and
Rev. B. F. Horne, clerk. We are pleased to
learn that the Association agreed to raise the
salary of their Missionary among the Indians,
Rev. William Mclntosh, native preacher, from ;
SIOO to $l5O.
The American Bible Union held its Eighth
Anniversary during the second week in Oc
tober, 1857, in New York. The sessions were
very harmonious, the attendance was large,
and the various reports showed a steady ad
vance in revision and Bible distribution. All
the efforts to break down the Union have been
and mustbe abortive.
The minutes of the Thirty-seventh Anni
versary of the Baptist State Convention of
South Carolina have been received. Dr. J.
L. Reynolds was elected President, and Rev.
Jno. J. Brantly, Secretary. The Convention
accepted the offer made by the late Theologi
cal Convention at Louisville, Ky., and ap
pointed an agent to secure the balance of the
SIOO,OOO.
From the State University at Athens, we
have received the October number of the
University Magazine, abounding with inter
esting matter.
Dr. Sherwood wishes us to say, that his
publishers in New York are pressed for funds,
and must be paid : therefore, for the next six
weeks, “Notes on N. T.” will be sold at
$2,50 per copy, or $2 by the dozen. Now,
then, is the time to buy.
The minutes of the Sarepta Association,
just received, show that Rev. A. Chandler
preached the introductory sermon and was
elected Moderator, and Rev. J. W. Johnson
was elected Clerk. We had hoped to visit
said Association in behalf of the Index, but
could not.
i
We acknowledge the receipt of the minute
of the Organization and first meeting of the
Sacramento Yalley Association, held with the
First Baptist church, Sacramento, Sept. 1857.
Much success to this infant body! May it be
come a eighty agent for good in California.
Rev. J. S. Murrow, on leaving Macon re
cently for his missionary field in the Creek Na
tion, received a tract from a young lady,
styled, “The Missionary Legacy.’ Feeling sad
as he journeyed on, he opened it in search of
comfort, when between its leaves he espied a
five dollar bill. Such little kindnesses exert
influences for good, and on no person can
they be more worthily bestowed than on self
denying missionaries.
We learn by. the last South Western Bap
tist, that Mr. John F. Henderson, of Oxford,
Ala., father of the senior, and father-in-law of
the junior Editor of that paper, has depart
ed this life. We can sympathize with our
bereaved brethren.
From the last Biblical Recorder we have re
ceived the sad intelligence that Mrs. Isabella
Hall Tobev, wife of Rev. Thomas W. Tobey,
late a Missionary to China, has departed this
life.
The Post Master at LaGrange has inform
ed us that the paper sent to the address of J.
T. K. Griffinn, is not taken out of the office,
the owner of it having moved out of the place.
The books show that he has been receiving it
for six years. What is to be done with such
cases ?
If the Biblical Recorder of the 22d of Oc
tober had gi**en us credit for the Leader, “The
Pulpit before Books,” which it transferred
from the Index to its own first page, we should
have had no reason to complain. With all
that we have taken from the Recorder —and
we have taken several articles —we have been
careful to observe the “ golden rule” of ac
knowledging their source.
Important Letters.
On the outside of the present number are
several letters of deep interest to the Baptist
denomination, which we hope will be careful
ly read.
The letter of brother Clark, Missionary to
Central Africa, is full of interesting matter
from beyond the blue ocean.
Brother Shuck, in a letter to the President
of the Domestic Mission Board at Marion,
Ala., explains himsel fin regard to the exchange
of Messengers between a Methodist Confer
ence, and the SaifFrancisco Baptist Associa
tion. We entertain not a doubt but that the
explanation will give general satisfaction, and
hope that Brother Shuck will continue to
prosecute the important mission he has inau
gurated in Sacramento, with vigor and pa
tience.
And last, though not least, is a multum in
parvo letter from Dr. Conant, and one of the
most sensible that has ever been written on
the" Bible Revision question. The praise of
Dr. Conant was on the lips of all the anti
revisionists at the North before he engaged
with the Bible Union. After that, he depre
ciated as suddenly as the paper of a suspended
bank- The results of his labors, however, have
compelled a verdict in his favor from scholars
of the first rank.
The State Press.
The first number of this paper has been is
sued, and adds another periodical to the week
lies of Macon. It is avowedly Democratic,
which gives two papers ot the same creed to
our city. To a good typography it adds a
fine appearance. Its editors are E. C. &A.
M. Rowland.
NEWS OF THE WEEK.
FOREIGN.
f From the English papers we learn, that the
insurrection in India has assumed a most for
midable and discouraging aspect. The rebel
lion which has swept, like the monsoons of that
country, over Bengal, threatens to involve the
Presidencies of Bombay and Madras in the
same calamities. General Havelock, after
winning a half dozen brilliant victories, was
compelled to recross the Ganges before the
overwelming numbers of the enemy.
At Delhi, the English hold their own, but
much time must elapse before they can reduce
that city, if indeed they succeed at all.
/ The conspiracy against the English is gen
eral throughout India, and seems to have
been well planned. The reason assigned, re
cently, by one native regiment for refusing to
do their duty was, that “ they would not make
war on their own countrymen Think as we
may of their recent cruelties, that sentiment
will vibrate a cord in every patriotic heart.
England has lost her prestige in India, and
may lose her possessions. The native troops
have learned to fight, and the people pant for
liberty.
noME.
The exchanges which have reached us from
different points of our country, bring the
gratifying intelligence that the money panic
is over, and business is resuming its activity.
Stocks have advanced in New York, and the
ladies are buying dry goods, “ paying as they
go.” No Southern houses have failed. Let
the people now be prudent and economical,
_and the hum of indutry and trade will short
ly be heard in the streets of our city.
Mr. Joseph Foster, ofSandwick, Mass., has
invented a “Marine Safe and Metallic Mail
hag,” by which gold and letters can be saved
in times of shipwrecks at sea.
Two of the robbers of the Richmond Cus
tom House, have been arrested, and $15,900
of the stolen treasure recovered.
A destructive fire occurred on the 19th
inst., at the Lake end of the Pontchartrain
Railroad —much property having been con
sumed.
The murders and burglaries of the past
week have been frightful at several places.
Notwithstanding the hard times, the wed
dings have been on the increase ! The fact is,
the times are less oppressive than the people
• iraagmeihem to be.
i
A Baptist Family.
The Illinois Baptist, an excellent jour
nal, after perigrinating for several months
through the State, has finally found a home
at Bloominging.
The Mississippi Baptist, at Clinton, furn
ishes a convenient medium of communication
for the churches in the State of its abode, and
is conducted with ability.
The Tennessee Baptist, in addition to its
other attractions, displays anew dress.
The Louisiana Baptist, contrary to th*
expectations of many, continues to live, and
is doing good service.
The Texas Baptist has greatly improved
of late, and bids fair to meet the demands of
the lone star-State.
The South Western Baptist still looks
neat and tidy, and exhibits its weekly supply
of excellent reading matter.
The Western Recorder has run into the
“ big head” —we beg pardon—we meant a
large head of large new type.
THEPq are many other papers in the land
devoted to the advocacy and defence of Bap
tist sentiments, but four of those named above
have but recently come into existence.
Every Man to his Fancy.
The Rev. 11. E. Taliaferro, of the South
Western Baptist, has lately accomplished the
feat of leaving “ Tuskegee, on the 9th inst.,
by Railroad; and without informing the read
er, like some tourists, that the ‘iron-horse’
went * toot!’ toot!’ several times on the way,
and drank a good deal of water, and fed on
wood; and further, without detailing any
sickly incidents on the way, he landed at Co
lumbus on the same day.”
We hope our brother will not tease him
self over-much on account of his neighbor’s
“ toots.” A man may, possibly, display as
much vanity by informing the public of what
he did not “ inform the reader,” as he suppo
ses ‘ tourists’ to have betrayed by describing
persons and things in a figurative, vivacious
manner, instead of the cut-and-dried, hum
drum style, of vapid narrative. Besides, it
may be the part /of wisdom with some per
sons, to refrain from attempting that which
others may properly perform.
First Baptist Church in NashviUe.
We have been pleased to learn from a friend
in Tennessee, that Dr. Howell’s return to
Nashville has, thus far, been blessed with
most gratifying success. On Lord’s-day,
(Oct. Uth), he received into the fellowship of
the church, 27. Some of these are persons of
wealth and influence, while all of them give
promise of usefulness. On account of the in
creased congregations, more pews have been
applied for than the meeting-house contains,
and the church have decided tp enlarge the
building. The Sabbath School has advanced
in numbers from 112 to 117, while the prayer
meetings are fall and their spirituality is more
promising, than it was a few months since.
Every Baptist in the South will be glad to
hear of these indications for good. Brother
Howell may now be regarded as the proper
ty of the South West, and Nashville is a suit
able point from which his large experience
and matured theological views may radiate
their influence. We do not doubt but that
his brethren will second his efforts for the
spread of divine truth.
For the Index.
From our Traveling Correspondent.
NOTES OF TRAVEL.
The old Slate House—lndependence Hall—The
cracked Bell—Portraits—Old Chairs—Squir
rels—Chesnut Street Fairmount Water
works.
Philadelphia, Oct. 2, 1857.
That old State house ! what thoughts and
sensations are aroused by its sight! Is any
one’s patriotism diminishing ? Let him gaze
upon its time-honored walls, or enter the
apartment sacred to revolutionary memories,
and the love of country, like a smouldering
fire suddenly kindled by the brisk blowing
breeze, will flame up brightly upon the altar
of his heart.
How the bosom swells with love and grati
tude when one thinks of those heroes risking
their “lives, fortunes, and sacred honors” for
liberty—for our liberty! Let us enter the
chamber where, in solemn conclave, they sat
deciding the destiny of unnumbered millions.
The superintendent politely opens the door,
and we stand among the shades of great men.
Unconsciously the hat is moved, as we gaze
with awe and veneration upon the huge mar
ble similitude ot him, who “was first in war,
first in peace, and first in the hearts of his
countrymen’’—theFatberof his Country. O,
how my nature goes out in love for the great
Washington! ’Tis a feeling that I know I
may and ought to harbor in the highest de
gree. Well may he thus look calmly down
upon those old fashioned chairs that line the
wall around ! They once held heroes and pat
riots—brothers in a good cause. Well may
he look calmly down upou that old leather
cushioned straight-backed chair! In it sat
John Hancock when he signed the instrument
that declared “these colonies are and of right
ought to be free and independent.”
But whose faces are all these that gaze down
upon us from every part of the wall ? Revo
lutionary sires they are. Men known to his
tory and to fame. Aye, their names are in
scribed high upon the temple of renown.—
There are Washington, Jefferson, Hancock,
Madison, Monroe, Lee, Jay, Knox, Franklin,
Greene—but why name them, we all know
them. Their names and memories are burnt
deep into the tablets of our hearts.
But what old bell with the defacing rent is
that! And why is it honored thus with its lof
ty pedestal ?
Read the inscription on it and perhaps we
can tell why it is thus honored —“ Proclaim
liberty throughout the land and to the inhab
itants thereof.’’ This bell it was that an
nounced to anxious ears the adoption of the
Declaration of Independence. Worthy is it
to be thus honored! And that piece of an oak
limb that leans against the bell ? It was sawn
from the famous charter oak. It, too, adds to
the sacredness of the chamber. We’ll sit for
a moment on this wooden settee —great men
have occupied it; for both Washington and
Franklin, besides others known to fame, used
the pew in divine service—of which pew this
part.
Long may the chamber be preserved to re
mind us of “the times that tried men’s souls!”
And deep and lasting may our gratitude be
to the giants of those days, who achieved for
us independence!
Once more we are beneath the skies. We
stand for a minute upon the steps where first
was read to the public the Declaration of In
dependence ; we imagine the sea of up-turn
ed, eagerly listening faces; we fancy the
breathless silence and attention, and are, in
imagination, thrilled by the prolonged shout
ings that fill the air, at the conclusion of the
perusal.
We step out under the trees ; and we think
how often their leaves are made to quiver by
the hurrahs of political meetings; and a feel
ing, as though the place were desecrated,
steals over us.
All over the grass of this and the other
squares of Philadelphia, squirrels gambol and
frisk and receive nuts from the hands of chil
dren, apparently delighted with their intra
urban homes.
Chesnut street is a gay street.
Its splendid stores have their windows beau
tifully and often gorgeously ornamented with
showy fabrics, pictures and brilliant articles
of every kind. Though not very wide it is
thronged with omnibusses—one of which we
will enter and ride to Fairmount, noticing the
magnificent store fronts as we proceed. Like
palaces do they appear.
Fairmount is noted the Union over; for to
easiness of access it unites beauty of location
and taste in adornment. At first it seems
like a place of enchantment to one wffio has
just left the hot and dusty streets of the city.
Winding walks, beneath thick growing trees”
high spouting fountains, a beautiful monn
ment, lofty stair-ways, immense reservoirs
huge wheels turned by water, fine buildings
and a long dam, all combine to form the dUe
brated Fairmount waterworks.
Twelve immense wheels force the clear wa
ters of the Schuylkill ninety six feet high, fifl
ty six feet above the highest ground of the
city, and, for the purpose of filling the new
reservoir near Girard College, one hundred
and twelve feet high, affording a supply of
about forty millions of gallons of water. From
these reservoirs, by one hundred and thirteen
miles of pipes, the water is conveyed to the
people. The whole number of gallons used
in a year is about two thousand millions. And
yet the whole cost of the work, from 1799 to
1853 was only $3,247,894 04. The man,
Frederick Graff, who accomplished all this’
so simply, efficiently and cheaply, has been
honored by a monument to his memory, by
the city of Philadelphia—which monument is
appropriately placed on the science of his la
bors and triumphs. g.
For the Index.
Buena Vista,Oct. 16, 1857.
Brother Walker :—l propose to give yon
an account of my efforts in the vineyard of
the Lord this year. I have not had the plea
sure of baptizing many, but I have baptized
some under circumstances favorable to the
future prosperity of the churches I think. I
have baptized at different times two into the
church at this place ; one an old gentleman
nearly 80 years old. Five have been added
to the Pond Town church at different times,
and one standing over next meeting. Eight
at Tazewell at different meetings, and eleven
at Union, all at one meeting of ten days. I
have had very little ministerial aid, hence my
labors have been arduous, but I trust netrja
vain in the Lord. I have stood uncompro
misingly on New Testament doctrine ; hence’
I am found side by side with such Baptists as
never give aid and comfort toour enemies. Per
haps some will inquire, do you have any hear
ers besides Baptists and their sympathizers ?
I reply yes; truth, the whole truth, wilkdraw
the people. The best of all, however is, I have
baptized more from Pedo societies this year
than any year previously. It does appear to
me, to be afraid to preach the word, is equal
to questioning God’s promises. If God in
tends to make his word his power in the salva
tion of sinners, will he not put it in the
hearts of sinners to go where his word is
preached, peradventure they be Pedo-Bap
tist. All the power is God’s, let God’s word
and his spirit do the work, and have all the
glory. THOS. H. MURPHEY.
California.
Brother Shuck in a letter dated August
4th, gives an account of a visit to Auburn,’ and
remarks: “ I wish we had an assistant Chi
nese preacher stationed at Auburn. There
is a large Chinese population there. As I was
detained over Sabbath, I preached twice to
the Americans and once to the Chinese.
V ery seldom is there any preaching at Au
burn. I suppose there will be a very laro-e
Chinese emigration to California this fall. °
I do not know but it would be best for the
Board to arrange it so that I can get loose
from the pastorate of the first church, and let
me do more in exploring among our own peo
and also the Chinese. Delegates from a num
ber of churches are to meet with us in this
city, in about five weeks, to form anew Bap
tist Association for the Sacramento valley.
Another Association is to be formed this
month in the Petaluma valley.
Can you not send a man to Maysville and
one to Sonora ?— Home and For. Journal.
From the same we take the following :
Georgia Baptist Convention.
We have just received a copy of the Min
utes of this body, which met m Augusta the
first ot May. It was a season of much inter
est. We mistake if anew impulse has not
been given to the various objects of a be
nevolent nature m that great and growing
State. She will do her part in those labors
which relate to the Bpead of the gospel
among the heathen. This we doubt not*—
Several of her associations are taking action
for the support, each of one or more mis non
aries. We trust the number will be increas
ed. TANARUS,
OCTOBER 1857